View source for Step by Step (New Kids on the Block song)

{{short description|1990 single by New Kids on the Block}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Step by Step
| cover      = Step by Step single cover.jpg
| alt        =
| caption    = Single cover
| type       = single
| artist     = [[New Kids on the Block]]
| album      = [[Step by Step (New Kids on the Block album)|Step by Step]]
| B-side     = [[Valentine Girl]]
| released   = May 10, 1990<ref name="autogenerated1">[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=new kids on the block|chart=all}}]</ref>
| recorded   = 1989
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = [[Dance-pop]], [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
| length     = 4:29
| label      = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
| writer     = [[Maurice Starr]]
| producer   = Maurice Starr
| prev_title = [[This One's for the Children]]
| prev_year  = 1989
| next_title = [[Valentine Girl]]
| next_year  = 1990
}}

"'''Step by Step'''" is a song by American boyband [[New Kids on the Block]], released on May 10, 1990 as the first single from the [[Step by Step (New Kids on the Block album)|album of the same name]] (1990). It is the group's biggest-selling hit single. The lead vocals were sung by [[Jordan Knight]]. [[Danny Wood]] sang "Step 1", [[Donnie Wahlberg]] sang "Step 2", Jordan Knight sang "Step 3", [[Joey McIntyre]] sang "Step 4", and [[Jonathan Knight]] sang "Step 5".

"Step by Step" was initially recorded by one of [[Maurice Starr]]'s other groups, The Superiors.  It was released as a single in 1987 on [[Motown Records]] but it was not successful. The New Kids cover of the song on the other hand was a huge worldwide hit, becoming one of the biggest selling singles of 1990. The New Kids on the Block's cover spent three weeks at No. 1 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and was eventually [[platinum certification|certified platinum]]; it also spent two weeks at No. 1 on the [[Canadian Singles Chart]], in total "Step by Step" spent five weeks at No. 1 in the [[North America]]n charts. It also peaked at No. 2 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] and was also a top 10 hit in the Australian, French, West German, Irish and Norwegian charts.

==Critical reception==
Bill Coleman from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' wrote, "Unstoppable teen idols preview upcoming [[Step by Step (New Kids on the Block album)|album of the same name]] with a perky [[Dance-pop|pop/dance]] confection rife with [[disco]]-era string fills. The phenomenon continues."<ref>{{cite magazine |first= Bill |last= Coleman |title= Single Reviews |magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date= May 19, 1990 |page= 77 |access-date= October 28, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB1990.pdf |archive-date= August 8, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200808074404/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB1990.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref> [[Greg Sandow]] from ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' praised "Step by Step" as "a wonderfully ingratiating morsel of pop. It’s nourished by a chugging beat and (for dessert, so to speak) offers perky disco strings and a brief flash of silver [[falsetto]] from New Kid [[Jordan Knight]]."<ref>[[Greg Sandow|Sandow, Greg]] (June 22, 1990). "Step By Step". ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''.</ref> Ben Thompson  from ''[[New Musical Express|NME]]'' commented, "The New Kids can be forgiven a certain caution as to where they are putting their feet, given their recent run-in with a malevolent cuddly toy. Excepting some nice ''[[Saturday Night Fever]]'' fake strings, all potential points of interest have been relentlessly expunged from this record."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Ben|last=Thompson|magazine=[[New Musical Express|NME]]|title=Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52130138744/|date=June 9, 1990|access-date=February 24, 2023}}</ref> In their review of the album, ''[[People (magazine)|People Magazine]]'' found that the music "is in fact better in spots than on their previous effort", noting that the song is "funkier".<ref>{{cite magazine |url= https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-step-by-step-vol-34-no-2/ |title= Picks and Pans Review: Step by Step |magazine= [[People (magazine)|People]] |date= July 16, 1990 |access-date= November 13, 2020 |archive-date= November 16, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201116110352/https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-step-by-step-vol-34-no-2/ |url-status= live }}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' described it as "a peppy reintroduction to the group that breaks up its generalized pledges of devotion with quick spots from each member, one-liners coyly called "ad libs" on the lyric sheet, although they're faithfully printed. (Nothing but nothing on this record happens by chance.)"<ref>"The kids are just alright. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. August 9, 1990. Issue 584.</ref>

==Music video==
The accompanying [[music video]] for "Step by Step" was directed by American director [[Larry Jordan]].<ref>{{cite web|first=|last=|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7188064/|title=New Kids on the Block: Step by Step|publisher=[[IMDb]]|date=|accessdate=June 15, 2022}}</ref> Donnie's brother [[Mark Wahlberg]] also appears in the video.

==Impact and legacy==
"Step by Step" was voted #4 in a Smash Hits poll of "Best Boyband songs...Ever" and also made the list of the top 30 Guilty Pleasures on About.com's music site.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://top40.about.com/od/guiltypleasures/Guilty_Pleasures.htm |title=Guilty Pleasures: A Month of Pop Music Guilty Pleasures |access-date=2007-08-22 |archive-date=2013-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509092823/http://top40.about.com/od/guiltypleasures/Guilty_Pleasures.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The song was voted #7 in a viewer poll of the greatest [[boy band]]/[[girl group|girl band]] songs on New Zealand show ''UChoose40''.<ref name="UChoose40">{{cite web |url=http://www.c4tv.co.nz/LineUp/UChoose40/UChoose40Results/tabid/177/Default.aspx |title=Home - TV - FOUR |publisher=C4tv.co.nz |date= |access-date=2014-06-05 |archive-date=2008-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802174342/http://www.c4tv.co.nz/LineUp/UChoose40/UChoose40Results/tabid/177/Default.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> It was also voted #1 in a viewer poll of the greatest Guilty Pleasures on the same show.

In August 2007, it was confirmed that "Step by Step" would be part of a 30-song track list in the new edition of the ''[[SingStar]]'' series titled ''[[SingStar 90s]]'', a karaoke style game on classic '90s songs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000T55QSW |title=SingStar '90s - Solus (PS2) : Amazon.co.uk: PC & Video Games<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=Amazon UK |access-date=2017-09-15 |archive-date=2021-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029075551/https://www.amazon.co.uk/rd/uedata?ld&v=0.219733.0&id=DGDCTTCRPQ7K3141ZVE5&sw=1600&sh=1000&vw=1114&vh=70015&m=1&sc=DGDCTTCRPQ7K3141ZVE5&ue=5&bb=230&ns=305&x1=687&cf=1280&be=1345&fp=321&fcp=321&pc=2465&tc=-361&na_=-361&ul_=-1635494148342&_ul=-1635494148342&rd_=-1635494148342&_rd=-1635494148342&fe_=-357&lk_=-357&_lk=-357&co_=-354&_co=-344&sc_=-353&rq_=-344&rs_=-46&_rs=1065&dl_=-29&di_=1437&de_=1438&_de=1438&_dc=2465&ld_=2465&_ld=-1635494148342&ntd=0&ty=0&rc=0&hob=3&hoe=6&ld=2467&t=1635494150809&ctb=1&rt=cf:13-0-0-7-1-1-1__ld:15-0-0-8-2-2-1&ec=18&ecf=0&csmtags=aui%7Caui:aui_build_date:3.21.7-2021-10-25%7Cewc:unpersist%7Cewc:unpersist:emptycart{{!}}ewc:bview{{!}}ewc{{!}}ewc:unrec{{!}}ewc:cartsize:0{{!}}ewc:aui{{!}}navbar{{!}}fls-eu-amazon-co-uk{{!}}adblk_no&viz=visible:5&pty=Detail&spty=Glance&pti=B000T55QSW&tid=DGDCTTCRPQ7K3141ZVE5&aftb=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Furthermore, it was chosen as part of a 32-track dance game in November 2009 for the [[Wii]], called ''[[Just Dance (video game)|Just Dance]]''.

In January 2015, ''[[Heat (magazine)|Heat]]'' magazine's TV Channel placed it at #17 in their "Greatest Boyband Anthems" countdown.

==Track listings==
* '''US<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Step By Step|others=[[New Kids on the Block]]|year=1990|type=US 7-inch Single liner notes|publisher=[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]|id=38-73343}}</ref> and Canada<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Step By Step|others=[[New Kids on the Block]]|year=1990|type=Canadian 7-inch Single liner notes|publisher=[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]|id=38-73343}}</ref> 7-inch single'''
#"Step by Step" - 4:27 
#"Valentine Girl" - 3:57

* '''CD single'''
#"Step by Step" - 4:27 
#"Valentine Girl" - 3:57

*'''Maxi-CD'''
#"Step by Step" (Radio Edit) - 3:59 
#"Step by Step" (LP Version) - 4:27 
#"Step by Step" (12" Club Remix) - 5:25

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1990)
!Peak<br>position
|-
{{single chart|Australia|8|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step|access-date=March 6, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Austria|12|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step|access-date=March 6, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|6|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step|access-date=March 6, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step|access-date=July 28, 2013|chartid=1276}}
|-
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|19|chartid=7955|publishdate=June 30, 1990|access-date=August 16, 2013|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step}}
|-
|Europe ([[Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-06-23.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=7|issue=25|page=IV|date=June 23, 1990|access-date=June 19, 2021|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628131306/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-06-23.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> 
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|Europe (European Hit Radio)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-08-25.pdf|title=EHR Top 40|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=7|issue=34|page=8|date=August 25, 1990|access-date=April 10, 2024}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
|Finland ([[Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref name="FINchart">{{cite book | first= Timo | last= Pennanen | year= 2006 | title=Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 | edition= 1st | publisher= Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava | location= Helsinki| isbn=  978-951-1-21053-5 | page= 263 | language= Finnish }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|-
{{single chart|France|10|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step|access-date=May 2, 2025}}
|-
|Greece ([[IFPI Greece|IFPI]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-08-11.pdf|title=Top 3 Singles in Europe|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=7|issue=32|page=VII|date=August 11, 1990|access-date=March 22, 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|5|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step|access-date=March 6, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|12|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step|access-date=March 22, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|13|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step|access-date=March 6, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|3|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step|access-date=March 6, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Norway|3|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step|access-date=March 6, 2016}}
|-
|Spain (Top 40 Radio)<ref>{{cite book|author=Fernando Salaverri|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st|date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|13|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step|access-date=May 2, 2025}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|17|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step|access-date=March 6, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|2|artist=New Kids on the Block|date=1990-06-16|access-date=March 6, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=New Kids on the Block|rowheader=|access-date=March 6, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|35|artist=New Kids on the Block|rowheader=|access-date=May 2, 2025}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|48|artist=New Kids on the Block|rowheader=|access-date=March 6, 2016}}
|-
{{single chart|West Germany|8|artist=New Kids on the Block|song=Step by Step|songid=2133|access-date=March 26, 2019}}
|-
|Zimbabwe (ZIMA)<ref>* Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. ''Zimbabwe: singles chart book''. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|10
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1990)
!Position
|-
|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1990/singles-chart|title=ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1990|publisher=[[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]]|access-date=September 8, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|33
|-
|Belgium (Ultratop)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1990|title=Jaaroverzichten 1990|publisher=[[Ultratop]]|language=nl|access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|52
|-
|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9139&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|title=Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990|work=RPM|access-date=November 26, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921133044/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9139&type=1&interval=50&PHPSESSID=4dp17sl7hp9qmhhj3vmcenr836|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|17
|-
|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-12-22.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 of 1990|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=7|issue=51|page=60|date=22 December 1990|oclc=29800226|access-date=15 January 2020|via=World Radio History|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926190110/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-12-22.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|33
|-
|Europe (European Hit Radio)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-12-22.pdf|title=Eurochart Hit Radio 1990|date=December 22, 1990|access-date=November 21, 2023|volume=7|issue=51|page=64|magazine=Music & Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022154344/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-12-22.pdf|archive-date=October 22, 2023|url-status=live|via=World Radio History}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|30
|-
|Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1990|title=Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1990|publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]]|language=de|access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|43
|-
|Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1990&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990|publisher=[[MegaCharts]]|language=nl|access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|81
|-
|New Zealand (RIANZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nztop40.co.nz/index.php/chart/?chart=3879|title=End of Year Charts 1990|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=December 3, 2017|archive-date=December 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204061255/https://nztop40.co.nz/index.php/chart/?chart=3879|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|22
|-
|Sweden (Topplistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp90singlar.htm|title=Årstopplistan 1990, Singlar|publisher=Grammotex|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010216102929/http://www.grammotex.se/topp90singlar.htm|archive-date=February 16, 2001|access-date=April 7, 2025}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|51
|-
|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music 1990: Top Pop Singles|magazine=Billboard|volume=102|issue=51|page=YE-14|date=December 22, 1990}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|33
|}

===Decade-end charts===
{|class="wikitable"
!Chart (1990–1999)
!Position
|-
|Canada ([[Nielsen SoundScan]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html|title=Top 100 singles of the 1990s|last=Lwin|first=Nanda|publisher=[[Jam!]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000829070927/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html|archive-date=August 29, 2000|access-date=March 26, 2022}}</ref>
|align="center"|46
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|title=Step by Step|artist=New Kids On The Block|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=13 March 2016|certref=<ref name=ryan>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|title=Step by Step|artist=New Kids On The Block|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=13 March 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|title=Step by Step|artist=New Kids On The Block|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=13 March 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|title=Step by Step|artist=ニュー・キッズ・オン・ザ・ブロック|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1992|certmonth=4|access-date=13 March 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Step by Step|artist=New Kids On The Block|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=1990|access-date=13 March 2016|certyear=1990|id=6274-1843-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Step by Step|artist=New Kids On The Block|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|access-date=13 March 2016}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081119152521/http://retrorewind.com/tales.htm Joey McIntyre discusses "Step By Step"] - RetroRewind interview
*{{YouTube|ay6GjmiJTPM|Music video for "Step by Step"}}

{{New Kids on the Block}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1987 songs]]
[[Category:1987 singles]]
[[Category:1990 singles]]
[[Category:New Kids on the Block songs]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Cashbox number-one singles]]
[[Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:Columbia Records singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Maurice Starr]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Maurice Starr]]